Robert Murray McCheyne Anderson KCMG (1865 - 1940)

Born 6 Aug 1865 in Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)

Husband of Jean Cairns (Amos) Anderson BA — married 1891 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 30 Dec 1940 at age 75 in Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Robert Anderson KCMG is Notable.

Brigadier General Sir Robert Murray McCheyne Anderson KCMG was a successful Sydney businessman and Australian Army officer. He served as head of the London-based Administrative Headquarters for the Australian Imperial Force during much of the First World War, finishing the conflict as a Brigadier General.

Formative years

Robert Anderson KCMG has Scottish Ancestors.

Robert Murray McCheyne Anderson was born on 6th August 1865 in The Mint, Macquarie Street, Sydney, New South Wales (Australia). He was the third (but second surviving, son of Scottish-born parents, Robert Anderson, a police inspector, and his wife, Margaret Hewson.^[1] After completing formal schooling at Sydney Grammar, he commenced work with the Bank of New Zealand, initially working in New Zealand. Upon his return to Sydney he was made manager of George Street, Sydney branch of the bank.

Robert Anderson married Jean Cairns Amos on 6th August 1891 in Sydney. ^[2] Robert and Jean lived at Tolcarne, Lindfield, in Sydney's leafy northern suburbs. They had seven children. Jean gradually became seriously ill and died in December 1928.

service to the business quarter

Building a career in finance, Anderson left the bank for local government from 1897 to 1900, firstly as Sydney's treasurer and then as town clerk. He then turned his hand to commerce and entered partnership in Allen Taylor & Co. Ltd, a timber and shipping merchant. His business and administrative acumen soon attracted the attention of the Commonwealth government. In 1911-12 he was a royal commissioner on the sugar industry. In 1915, Anderson provided advice on the re-organisation of the paymaster's branch of the Defence Department, struggling to cope with the expansion of the military as a result of the war. His advice was subsequently implemented by the Minister of Defence, George Pearce. Anderson also reported on the financial management of other government departments.

In 1918, he chaired a commission in New Zealand on defence department expenditure. After the war, Anderson advised the New South Wales government in relation to financial and commercial matters. He was also an advisor to the Commonwealth treasury. He gradually became an important part of the business community in Sydney, becoming involved as a chairman or director in a number of businesses.

service to the defence forces

Robert Anderson KCMG is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Imperial Force 1915-1918
Aust. Administrative Headquarters

Late that year, Anderson was appointed deputy quartermaster general of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), then based in Egypt. Brought in to implement business practices to the organisation of AIF logistics, he was made a Colonel and successfully improved supply arrangements and established rest camps for soldiers on leave. ^[3] As well as his experience in finance, Anderson had been a member of the New South Wales militia, having been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1886. He was later promoted to Lieutenant (1891) and then to Captain (1894). He had resigned his commission at that time to pursue his civilian career. When the AIF shifted to the Western Front in 1916, Anderson relocated to London as commander of the Australian Administrative Headquarters. Within a few months, he had re-negotiated the supply and accounting arrangements then in place with the War Office. Anderson's work in this capacity was such that by the end of 1915, he had been promoted to Brigadier General and recommended for appointment as Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by the AIF commander, General Sir William Birdwood. ^[4] His award was duly gazetted in January 1917, and within a few months, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. ^[5] His work in London completed, Anderson returned to Australia in late 1917, with stops in Egypt and France.

voluntary service to his community

Like many people of note in business, being prominent in the eye of his fellow community members allowed Sir Robert to serve those with specific needs:

• NSW 2nd Artillery Regiment, 1885-1894;
• Highland Society of NSW, member, councillor, secretary, treasurer from about 1895;
• Indian Famine Relief Fund, joint secretary, 1900;
• Civil Ambulance and Transport Brigade (later Corps), Sydney, supporter 1899, committee or board member 1900, 1904-1907;
• Honorary secretary of the Australian War Contingent Association for the welfare of AIF soldiers on leave in London, August 1914;
• Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Jubilee Fund, Chairman 1918-1919;
• Barnardo’s Homes (NSW), member, committee member, treasurer, 1924-1930;
• New Settlers League, member, president, vice-president, 1925-1930;
• Big Brother Movement, 1925;
• Councillor of St Andrew’s College, University of Sydney, 1933.

just desserts

He passed away on 30th December 1940 at his harbour-side home in Double Bay. ^[6] Anderson was survived by three sons and four daughters.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #557/1865 V1865557 46
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #1245/1892
3. ↑ Australian Imperial Force attestation papers; accessed 13 Dec 2018
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: CMG; accessed 13 Dec 2018
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: KCMG; accessed 13 Dec 2018
6. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #26343/1940

See also

• Walsh, G P. Anderson, Sir Robert Murray (1865–1940). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1979, accessed online 1 Jun 2018.
• Australian Defence Force Academy: Sir Robert Murray Anderson; accessed 13 Dec 2018.
• Wikipedia: Robert Anderson; accessed 31 May 2018.
• WikiTree: Australian Knights and Dames; accessed 2 Jul 2024.